Heel-stiffener



No Model.)

B. SHAW & R. A. 'OWINGS.

HEEL STIPFE'NER.

,022. Patented June 10, 1884.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD-SHAW AND ROMEO A. OWINGS, OF MATTOON, ILLINOIS.

HEEL-STIFFENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 300,022, dated June 10, 1884,.

Application filed February 28, 1884.

Stiffeners or Counters for Boots and Shoes,

of which the following is a description. sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which said invention appertains'to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyleather, in contradistin'ction to those composed of rubber; and it consists in a novel construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed, by which a more effective article of this character is produced than is now in ordinary use.

The nature and operation of the improvement will be readily understood by all conversant with such matters from the following explanation, its extreme simplicity rendering an elaborate description unnecessary.

In the drawings, A represents the body of the counter, and B the flange. The body and flange are both composed of rubber, cast or molded by any suitable means, the flange being integral with the body and projecting inwardly at nearly right angles thereto at its base, as best seen in Fig. 1. A holder or stitch-retainer, C, composed of stout cloth, canvas, or other suitable fibrous materials, is inserted centrally in the body of the counter, being molded or cast in when the body is formed. The holder is larger. in area than the body, and'projects beyond it on all sides, the projecting edge of the holder being preferably from one-third to one-half an inch in width.

In the use of our improvement the counter is placed in the usual position in the boot or shoe, and the flange B pegged or nailed to the (No model.)

inner sole or heel, the projecting edge of the holder G at the top and front edges of the counter being stitched to the upper, thereby securely holding all parts of the counter in proper position. The projecting edges of the holder afford a ready means of permanently attaching the upper portions of the counter to the upper of the boot or shoe'and keeping it in proper shape without materially reducing its flexibility or increasing its. rigidity, as would be the case were the body of the counter stitched directly to the upper.

In size, thickness, and weight our improved counter is designed to correspond nearly with the ordinary sole-leather counters; but-it will be obvious that its flexibility renders it much easier for the wearer to put on or take off a boot or shoe provided with it than when provided with a counter composed wholly or in leather counters.

We do not confine ourselves to having the edge of the holder project beyond the flange B, as it may be omitted at that point, if desired, the flange being attached by nailing or egging; neither do we confine ourselves to making the flange continuous, as it may be serrated, or two or more short flanges used instead of one, if preferred.

Having thus explained ourinvention, what we claim is- As an improved article of manufacture, a heel-stiffener or counter for boots and shoes, having a cast or molded rubber body provided around its bottom with an inwardly-projecting flange integral with the body, for receiving the nails or pegs by which the counter is attached to the inner sole or heel, and an interposed piece of cloth, canvas, or other fibrous material molded or cast into the body and projecting beyond the edges of the same, to receive the stitches by which the counter is attached to the upper, substantially as shown and described.

EDWARD SHAW. ROMEO A. ownvos.

Witnesses:

W. H. K. LILE, S. L. SHAW. 

